Elevating Public Health through European Elections: A Call to Action

submission is open from 1 February to 1 May 2024. EPH Conferences offer excellent opportunities to learn from the latest research and practice, to network with experts and colleagues and to expand your professional horizons.Abstracts are invited for workshops and single presentations in all areas of public health research, practice, policy and education. For less experienced abstract submitters, a Tutoring Programme is set-up. Check our website for regular updates.


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s we stand at the crossroads of political decision-making in Europe, it is imperative to reflect on the profound impact that elections have on the health and well-being of our continent.The upcoming European elections are not just a political event; they are a pivotal moment for public health, demanding our collective attention and advocacy.
At the European Public Health Association EUPHA, our commitment to fostering a healthier Europe is unwavering.Our mission goes beyond the confines of research and academia; it extends into the realm of policy and decision-making.The European elections present a unique opportunity for us to assert the importance of evidence-based public health policies in shaping the future of our continent.This is not something we will do on our own: a campaign is about to be launched by the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance with a EU elections 2024 manifesto and shared priorities to secure Health on the political agenda.
As executive director of EUPHA, and from my former functions, I am acutely aware of the intricate relationship between political decisions and the health outcomes of our diverse population.Our responsibility is not merely to observe from the sidelines but to actively engage in the democratic process, ensuring that the voices of public health professionals resonate in the corridors of power.
The nexus between politics and public health cannot be overstated.Policies enacted at the European level have far-reaching consequences for the health of millions.From environmental regulations to healthcare accessibility, each decision holds the potential to either nurture or undermine the well-being of our communities.
All of our members can be part of this campaign to amplify it by contacting local and national policy makers in their national networks.
EUPHA is committed to being a of evidence-based advocacy.We will leverage our expertise to provide policymakers with the necessary data and insights to inform decisions that prioritize health and equity.New ways of working will help us to bridge the gap between research and policy; the leadership of young professionals with EUPHAnxt is truly inspiring, and no doubt they will be able to commit to this campaign.
Together, we can ensure that the European elections become a catalyst for positive and equitable change, paving the way for a healthier and more resilient continent.

Charlotte Marchandise Executive Director, EUPHA
The vital importance of mental health and psychosocial support in conflict settings F eeling safe is the foundation of well-being for individuals; peace is the foundation of flourishing communities.Violence of any kind-experienced directly or indirectly-profoundly disrupts these equilibriums, inevitably leading to suffering.
The WHO European Region is in the midst of, or reeling from, the impact of multiple armed conflicts-the war in Ukraine, the Karabakh crisis and most recently the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory-causing suffering for millions of people.Facing the horrors of war, danger and human misery are emotionally taxing in the extreme, and it is common for people affected to experience feelings of intense anxiety, sadness, despair and hopelessness.
With the right support, however, most people will be able to process and integrate these experiences, regaining their foothold in their daily life, and building resilience.It is important to note that not everyone exposed to such extreme distress will develop a mental health condition such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).According to the latest available data, about 1 in 5 (22.1%) people living in areas affected by a conflict in the previous 10 years will have a mental health condition (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736( 19)30934-1/full text).The longer a conflict progresses and the less access people have to the support they need, the higher the likelihood of long-term negative consequences for their mental health and overall well-being.
Delivering effective mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) early on in emergency situations is one of the most important means of mitigating lasting suffering.MHPSS refers to any type of local or outside support focused on protecting or promoting psychosocial well-being and preventing or treating mental health conditions.It is a crucial, cross-cutting area of any emergency response.
For the last two decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been a key actor, together with other United Nations agencies and international organizations, in developing international standards and resources for MHPSS, culminating in the MHPSS Minimum Service Package (https://www.mhpssmsp.org/en).According to these standards, effective MHPSS interventions are wellcoordinated among responding agencies and across different sectors, informed by rapid, iterative assessments of needs and available resources.In essence, there is no one-size-fits-all approach with MHPSScustomized interventions must be delivered based on the needs of the affected communities.
To ensure such a needs-driven approach, a strong, well-staffed, national mental health system must be in place before the emergency.This system should also incorporate MHPSS into the national emergency response and recovery plan, which should flexibly respond to the changing needs of affected populations over time.
A sufficient number of qualified mental health professionals must also be in place, which is why reports from across the WHO European Region, indicating a shortage of such professionals, are concerning, particularly in the realm of child and adolescent mental health.
In situations of intense distress, the first source of support for most people is from their community members.For that reason, community engagement must be actively enabled, including the creation of community referral networks to ensure that people are able to access the support that they need.Responding agencies, however, tend to prioritize allocating resources to the treatment of mental health conditions and less to the strengthening of community-based support which can foster resilience and social cohesion.
Support for those involved in the response-health care professionals, first responders and volunteers-must not be forgotten.Helpers are often exposed to distressing events, widespread suffering, long working hours, overwhelming workloads and security threats, which can drastically affect their mental health and lead to burnout.Diverse interventions to protect and promote mental health and psychosocial well-being should be available to helpers 'during and after crises', at both the individual and group level.
Wanting to forget atrocities is a typical human response in order to return as quickly as possible to normalcy after a crisis ends.However, it is essential that the recovery process be planned for and supported in the aftermath of a crisis to actually allow healing at the individual and collective level.Otherwise, there is a very real risk that unresolved trauma may form the foundation for the next conflict.
Globally, roughly 80% of WHO's humanitarian work takes place in fragile, conflictaffected and vulnerable settings.
That's widely known to those who work in public health.Also widely acknowledged is how health and peace are interlinked; how physical and mental health are the number one condition for peace and vice-versa and how fighting health inequity is crucial to building and strengthening peace.This is why mental health and psychosocial support is increasingly an integral element of peacebuilding as well.
Awareness of the dividends, intricacies and impacts on individuals and societies alike should urge us to make mental health and psychosocial support an even greater priority-integral to our work within public health.This is clearly laid out in the European Programme of Work, committed to by every single Member State in this WHO European Region encompassing 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia.And this lies at the heart of the agenda of a WHO/Europe flagship initiative under our European Programme of Work: the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition, launched in 2020 to promote mental health as a critical priority for public health as a whole.
Because to help heal the impacts of conflicts around us, we ultimately have to heal the conflicts within.
Hans Henri Kluge WHO/Europe Regional Director Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation , Welcome to Lisbon 2024 A fter the successful conference in Dublin, we will meet again in person for the 17th EPH Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, from 12-15 November.The charming city of Lisbon is the perfect blend of historical charm and modern innovation, making it an ideal location for exploring cutting-edge public health topics.We will meet in the renovated Lisbon Congress Center (CCL), a venue with excellent facilities and sustainable features.Located near the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge and the Bel em Tower, the CCL offers easy access to the city's most famous landmarks and cultural institutions.

Abstract submission for Lisbon 2024
Abstract submission is open from 1 February to 1 May 2024.EPH Conferences offer excellent opportunities to learn from the latest research and practice, to network with experts and colleagues and to expand your professional horizons.
Abstracts are invited for workshops and single presentations in all areas of public health research, practice, policy and education.For less experienced abstract submitters, a Tutoring Programme is set-up.Check our website for regular updates.

Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation
The theme for Lisbon 2024 is Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation.Just as explorers left Lisbon in search of new worlds, we, as public health professionals, embark on a journey of discovery in our field.During the conference we aim to push the boundaries, discover new approaches and chart a new course for the future of public health in Europe.
The plenary programme is centred on five subthemes: Artificial intelligence (AI) in Public Health: we'll explore how AI is transforming disease surveillance, healthcare delivery, and decisionmaking, propelling us into an exciting era of health innovation.
One Health-Animal Approach: we'll discuss how taking an animal-centric approach can strengthen public health strategies and mitigate emerging threats.
Social Marketing in Public Health: join us in exploring innovative campaigns, digital strategies, and community engagement techniques to promote healthier behaviours.
Health Inequalities: the diverse neighbourhoods of Lisbon, each with its own character and challenges, serve as a reminder of the widespread health inequalities in Europe that persist across the continent.There will be a discussion on innovative strategies that can be employed to reduce disparities and ensure equitable access to health care.
Global Health: we'll discuss how European public health efforts can contribute to global health solutions, addressing issues that transcend borders.
The plenary programme is organized by: EPH Conference Foundation, EUPHA, EuroHealthNet, European Health Management Association (EHMA), ASPHER, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Commission, WHO Regional Office for Europe.Check our website for regular updates.

Conference fees
Conference fees will be announced in March.Registration is possible for the main conference (13-15 November) and pre-conferences (12 November).Day registration is also an option.Registration fees include buffet lunches and refreshments in morning and afternoon.Reduced rates are available for EUPHA members, delegates from Portugal, students/trainees and delegates from LMICs.
We look forward to seeing you all in Lisbon.